Confronting The Youth Mental Health Crisis in Orange County: Panel Discussion

Orange County’s family foundation leaders gathered for a powerful and timely discussion on the mental health crisis facing children and youth in communities across our nation and the world. Hosted by the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF), the program brought together top medical, nonprofit, and education leaders to share data, insights, and collaborative solutions aimed at early intervention and long-term impact.

This special event was designed for members of OCCF’s Family Foundation Alliance—a network of family foundation philanthropists who meet quarterly to deepen their understanding of the region’s most pressing issues and explore opportunities to drive meaningful change.

Dr. Hustzi: Once a child has been identified as needing help, what does an ideal treatment pathway look like? How often are families able to access that pathway?

Dr. Leigh Belhumeur: The reality is, there is far more need than there are services. We are trying to create an accessible front door with our “One Door, Any Door” model. People can email us directly at gethelp@westernyouthservices.org. That email goes to our access coordination team, who will respond and walk the family through what they need.

The process starts with a screening—are we looking at a mental health issue, or are the needs different? If it’s mental health, we determine severity and match the child with the most appropriate level of care. If the need is not mental health-specific, we still provide referrals for things like housing, food insecurity, or parenting support.

For serious cases, our five outpatient clinics across Orange County serve about 4,000 children annually. These are kids in significant psychological distress. We’re triaging and coordinating constantly, and families are often overwhelmed. The biggest issue is that the demand far exceeds the supply.

Dr. Hustzi: Chris, what are the most effective ways to identify mental health challenges in young children before they escalate?

Dr. Min: I like to think of child development as a kind of path. If a child is on the developmental track, emotionally, socially, and behaviorally, you are okay. But when they start to drift off that path, that’s an early warning sign. The farther they go off course, the harder it is to bring them back.

The key is identifying those deviations early. And to do that, we can’t rely on a “Field of Dreams” model—if you build it, they will come. That’s outdated. Many families, for various reasons, won’t or can’t make it to a provider on their own.

Where are the best places to find children who are suffering? Primary care and schools. Kids go to school; most kids see a pediatrician. So, we must embed screening and mental health services in those two environments. That’s where we’ll find the best return on investment.

Dr. Hustzi: Jeff, what are schools doing to teach students to recognize when their peers may be struggling, and what services do they have in place?

Dr. Leyland: We’ve got about 37,000 students across 65 schools for six and a half hours a day. That’s a powerful opportunity to do more than just teach academics. It’s about supporting the whole child.

What we’re doing across the district—and I know other OC districts are doing this too—is embedding social-emotional learning directly into the classroom. We talked about the science of the brain. We teach emotional regulation and coping tools early on.

We also have WellSpaces in every school, not just CHOC’s model but our own. It’s a physical space dedicated to student mental health. And we’re teaching breathing techniques and mindfulness. Here’s an example: A parent recently told me that she was in the grocery store getting flustered, and her six-year-old said, “Mom, just take a breath. Picture a little box in your head and breathe around it.” She learned that at school.

That’s how we know this stuff is working. Kids are taking these tools home.

Dr. Hustzi: Lorri, what community-based models have you seen that are effective at sustaining care over time, especially for high-needs children?

Dr. Leigh Belhumeur: The number one thing is parental involvement. When we engage the whole family—helping parents access mental health services for themselves, providing wraparound care—it has a much stronger impact.

Effective models are those that create a continuum: medical care, mental health, recreation, library access, transportation, and a dependable adult. Whether it’s a parent, therapist, or teacher, that consistent, caring relationship builds resilience.

The best systems are collaborative, networked, and coordinated—with someone actively managing that network of support. It’s not just about a one-off therapy session. It’s about creating a web that holds the child over time.

Dr. Hustzi: Thinking about pediatricians and school-based providers, what’s their role in screening for mental health conditions? And how can philanthropy help scale this?

Dr. Min: Pediatricians are slammed. They’re doing nutrition, development, vaccines—mental health is just one more thing on a very crowded plate. They get 10–15 minutes per visit. That’s not a lot of time.

One big opportunity is better screening. Families don’t like the paperwork, but those forms are essential. They help catch issues early.

Even better, though, is embedding behavioral health providers directly into pediatric offices. For example, some families come to our CHOC clinic after taking multiple buses, missing work, and navigating language barriers. Then the pediatrician says, “Here are some referrals.” But now they’ve got to repeat that whole process again elsewhere.

If we can place a therapist or psychologist right there in the clinic, we eliminate those barriers. Philanthropy can help fund those placements.

Dr. Hustzi: What about promising school-based mental health programs—any that could be scaled with philanthropic support?

Dr. Leyland: Absolutely. One of our favorite programs is our therapy dog initiative. We partner with the Garden Grove Police Department to bring in three trained therapy dogs. These are privately funded. It’s amazing. Even kids from gang-involved families or those in real distress just melt when they see the dog. They open up. It’s instant trust and connection.

Another is our WellSpaces. Every school has one, but they all look different. Some are small rooms; others are fully developed spaces with calming furniture and sensory tools. Last year, we had over 60,000 student visits. That’s for a district with 37,000 students—so we know students are returning.

These spaces are where kids check in, decompress, or even say things like “I want to die,” and get immediate help. They’re physical proof that our district prioritizes mental wellness. Philanthropy can absolutely help us build more of these and do it equitably.

Dr. Hustzi: Chris, what can help underserved families’ better access mental health care?

Dr. Min: Start by going where families are. That’s why we have our “Wellness on Wheels” van that brings services into the community. And we have to ensure providers look like the community and speak their language.

Only 9% of licensed psychologists in California speak Spanish. That’s a huge mismatch. Families are much more likely to engage when they see someone who understands their lived experience. Funders can support workforce development, scholarships, and pipeline programs to change that.

Dr. Hustzi: One last question for each of you: Where can funders make the most meaningful difference?

Dr. Leigh Belhumeur: Coordination. Programs that link services and wrap around the child and family. That’s where you prevent escalation.

Dr. Leyland: Access. Programs that help families navigate the system, access telehealth, transportation, or just show up. That’s where the gaps are. Also, early interventions to kids before they’re in crisis.

Dr. Min: Integration. Fund placements of behavioral health staff inside pediatric offices and schools. And invest in training bilingual, culturally aligned providers.

Dr. Huszti: Fund the connectors. Fund the listeners. Fund the physical spaces that say to a child, “You belong here.” That’s what healing begins with.

Audience Question: As a non-mental health professional, how can I help if someone, whether a child or adult—shares that they are struggling?

Dr. Leigh Belhumeur: First, you can always refer someone to Western Youth Services by emailing gethelp@westernyouthservices.org. It’s a quick connection that can get a family to an access coordinator who will walk them through next steps. Keep that in your phone, it’s a lifeline.

Second, I encourage everyone to watch my TEDx Talk on “Super Resilient Strategies for the Next Generation.” In it, I outline three things any adult can do to make a difference for a child in distress – CPR:

• C: Be the Connection—a caring adult who believes in them.
• P: Help them see Possibilities—dreams, goals, and hope.
• R: Reframe their experiences—help them think, “What strength got me through this?”

You don’t need a license to show up with empathy and connection. Those are healing forces.

Dr. Leyland: I’ll add that empathy is the most powerful tool you already have. When someone opens up to you, they’re showing vulnerability. The best thing you can do is lean in. Say something like: “I don’t know what to say right now, but I’m here with you. Let’s figure it out together.”

It’s not about solving the problem immediately. It’s about showing the person they’re not alone. You can be a bridge to help—whether that’s a referral to a provider, a support group, or a hotline.

Dr. Min: And model it. Kids watch everything. Show them what self-care looks like. Go to therapy. Talk openly about stress. Admit it when you’re overwhelmed. That gives them permission to do the same. Vulnerability is contagious in the best way.

Audience Question: Has stigma around youth mental health decreased thanks to social media? Or is it still a barrier to care?

Dr. Leyland: It’s definitely improved—today’s youth are more open than past generations. But there’s a difference between awareness and deep vulnerability.

TikTok and Instagram have helped normalize the conversation: “It’s okay to not be okay.” That’s good. But truly opening up about suicidal thoughts or depression still takes courage—and that stigma is very real.

We’ve found that stigma now often lives more with parents. They may not recognize or accept a child’s struggle due to cultural, generational, or language barriers. That’s why education and parent engagement are so important.

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